Aerosol dispensing cap



July 11, 1967 .1. DOBLIN 3,330,447

AEROSOL DISPENS ING CAP Filed Aug. 6, 1965 INVENTOR.

74; DOZZW BY TQW pj ATTORNEYS United States Patent 3,330,447 AEROSOLDISPENSING CAP Jay Doblin, Chicago, Ill., assignor to W. R. FrankPackaging Engineers, Inc., a corporation of Illinois Filed Aug. 6, 1965,Ser. No. 477,776 1 Claim. (Cl. 222-402.13)

This invention relates to a novel aerosol dispensing cap and, moreparticularly, to a dispensing cap which causes actuation of an aerosolvalve as a result of a downward force against any portion of a largesurface area.

The usual aerosol container on the market today consists of a containercan having a rim, a container neck, a mounting cup attached to the neck,and an aerosol valve stem within the mounting cup. The valve stem isgenerally cylindrical in shape and has an outlet channel approximatelyone-eighth inch in diameter. Frictionally attached to the outer surfaceof the valve stem is generally a plastic valve button which has achannel extending therethrough. The valve button is ordinarilyapproximately a quarter inch to one-half inch in diameter and the outletaperture which communicates with the valve button channel is generallysituated on one side of the valve button.

The fineness of the spray is controlled by the diameter of the outletaperture of the valve button. When the valve button is urged downwardlythe aerosol valve is actuated and a spray is expelled from the containervia the outlet aperture of the valve button.

Before pressing the valve button it has been necessary to first locatethe outlet aperture so that the spray will be aimed in the properdirection. Furthermore, the portion of the container above the rimincluding the neck, the mounting cup and the valve button has beenconsidered distasteful in appearance to many consumers. An effort topacify these consumers has been made whereby a large separate cap isprovided which completely surrounds the portion above the container rimand is frictionally affixed to the container. However, in order to haveaccess to the valve button to release the spray this container cap mustbe disengaged from the can. In many applications the separate cap hasbeen misplaced or broken after removal from the can.

The relatively small valve button has been a problem in itself because asteady pressure against the top portion of the button to release thespray has caused muchdiscomfort in the past. In addition, the valvebutton has a tendency to slip away from the finger applying pressurethereto, causing an interruption of the spray.

The foregoing disadvantages of the prior art valve button have beenobviated by the present invention in which a dispensing cap for anaerosol container is provided. The cap of the present invention has anupper portion through which a channel extends. The channel is adaptedfor communication with the outlet channel of the valve stem. Adownwardly extending skirt contiguous with the upper portion of the capis provided to surround at least a portion of the container neck. Theskirt forms the portion of the outer periphery of the dispensing cap.The cap is adapted to frictionally engage the aerosol valve stem by themeans of an annular flange which extends downwardly from the upperportion of the cap whereby the cap is sustained in a floating positionwith respect to the container rim thereby causing actuation of theaerosol valve when pressure is exerted against the outer periphery ofthe upper portion of the dispensing cap.

In a preferred embodiment of the invention the dispensing cap channelextends vertically therethrough so that a fountain type cap is providedhaving the outlet aperture directly on the top of the cap.

In another embodiment of the invention the upper portion has a flaredouter periphery which not only adds to its attractive appearance butalso provides a surface which the consumer will find comfortable topress.

A more detailed explanation of the invention is provided in thefollowing description and claim and illustrated in the accompanyingdrawing which discloses by way of examples the principle of theinvention and the best mode contemplated of applying that principle.

In the drawing:

FIGURE 1 is a perspective view of an aerosol container with a dispensingcap of the present invention aflixed thereto;

FIGURE 2 is a sectional elevation showing a dispensing cap of theinvention in its normal position;

FIGURE 3 is a sectional elevation showing the same dispensing cap in anactuated position; and

FIGURE 4 is a view of the dispensing cap of FIGURE 2 taken along theline 44 of that figure.

Referring to the drawing, in FIGURE 1 an aerosol container can 10 havinga container rim 12 is illustrated with one embodiment of the dispensingcap of the present invention, generally designated as 14, afiixedthereto.

As shown most clearly in FIGURES 2 through 4, dispensing cap 14comprises an upper portion 16 through which a channel 18 extends. In apreferred embodiment of the invention the channel 18 extendssubstantially vertically through the upper portion 16 as shown in thedrawing. In this manner a fountain top is provided which is decorativeand allows the user to know exactly from where the spray will beexpelled without having to search for the outlet. The size of thechannel 18 diameter is determined in view of the fineness of the spraydesired.

An annular flange 20 which extends downward from the upper portion isprovided and is adapted to frictionally engage valve stem 22 which ispositioned above container rim 12 and within mounting cup 24 of aerosolcontainer 10. A downwardly extending skirt 26 is provided contiguouswith upper portion 16 and is adapted to surround at least a portion ofthe container neck 28.

In one embodiment of the invention a spacer means 30 in the form of anannular ring is provided to restrict the movement of dispensing cap 14.As seen in FIGURE 3, edge 32 of spacer 36 is caused to contact mountingcup 24 upon actuation of the dispensing cap. In one embodiment of theinvention movement of the floating cap is imited by bottom edge 34 ofskirt 26 which will ultimately contact a portion of container neck 28.

In the operation of the dispensing cap, any downward pressure againstthe outer periphery of upper portion 16 will cause actuation of theaerosol valve. It is preferable that a side action valve be employedwherein actuation is caused by a sideward force against the valve stemas an alternative to a downward force. Hence, positive actuation willresult due to pressure on any part of the entire surface of upperportion 16. In order to achieve a more comfortable and attractivedispensing cap, a flared upper portion may be provided as illustrated inthe drawing.

To prevent accidental actuation during shipment or in stores apaperboard collar can be inserted between container rim 12 and bottomedge 34 of the dispensing cap. In this manner dispensing cap 14 will befixed in the position shown in FIGURE 2. When actuation of the device isrequired the paperboard collar may be simply removed.

It is preferred that dispensing cap 14 be a unitary molded piece.However, it is to be understood that the invention is not limited tosuch a construction.

The fundamental novel features of the invention as applied to apreferred embodiment have been shown and described. It will beunderstood that various omissions and substitutions and changes in thedetail and form of the device illustrated may be made by those skilledin the art without departing from the spirit of the invention.

What is claimed is:

A dispensing cap for an aerosol container having a cylindrical bodyportion, a container rim in the form of an annular bead at the top ofthe body portion, a container neck, a mounting cup attached to thecontainer neck and a valve stem positioned above the bead and within themounting cup, which comprises: a substantially cylindrical upper portionhaving a channel extending substantially vertically therethrough, saidchannel being adapted for communication with the outlet aperture of saidvalve stem; an outwardly concave, intermediate portion, tangentially andcontinuously merging with the upper portion and having a surface adaptedfor pressure by an operator; a cylindrical skirt joined to the loweredge of the intermediate portion, said cylindrical skirt surroundingsaid container neck and forming a portion of the outer periphery of saiddispensing cap; means connected to said upper portion andbeing adaptedto engage frictionally said valve stem; the lower edge of said skirtbeing spaced in an axial direction from said annular bead a suificientdistance whereby said dispensing cap is sustained in a floating positionwith respect to said bead thereby permitting actuation of the aerosolvalve when pressure is exerted against said surface of said intermediateportion of the dispensing cap and whereby said skirt substantiallyconstitutes a continuation of the outer wall of the aerosol containerwhen said cap and valve stem are in their non-dispensing position.

References Cited UNITED STATES PATENTS 2,582,262 1/1952 Loven et al.222402.23 X 2,696,934 12/1954 Ashton 222394 2,753,214 7/1956 Abplanalp222394 2,877,936 3/1959 Michel 222402.22 X 2,889,086 6/1959 Collins222402.22 2,907,358 10/1959 Armstrong 22239 4 2,994,461 8/ 1961 Michel222402.22 X 3,081,916 3/1963 Rhodes et a1 239-579 X 3,096,002 7/1963Focht 239--579 X 3,161,196 12/1964 Berkow 222394 3,232,493 2/1966 Beard222394 3,249,260 5/1966 Goldberg 239-579 X 3,257,044 6/1966 Seaquist251353 X RAPHAEL M. LUPO, Primary Examiner.

